🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom
Clink 78
📍 261-265 Gray's Inn Rd, London WC1X 8QT, UK
Photo: official website
Your stay — Clink 78
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for London.
The Property — Clink 78
Clink 78 occupies a converted Victorian courthouse – the wood-panelled lobby still has the old dock and magistrates’ bench, giving it a quirky, slightly theatrical feel. Dorms are clean and basic (think Premier Inn simplicity but with bunks), and there’s a bar serving decent ale and pizza. It’s a solid pick for budget-conscious backpackers or groups who want a central base with character; less suited to couples or anyone after quiet.
Chronicles of London
London was founded by the Romans as Londinium around AD 50, a small trading port that grew into medieval Europe’s largest city. The Great Fire of 1666 swept away much of the old timber city, prompting Christopher Wren’s baroque rebuild, including St Paul’s. The 19th century brought the Georgian terraces of Bloomsbury and the grand Victorian railway termini. Today, London is a global financial and cultural hub, its skyline a mix of Gothic spires, Georgian squares and glass towers like The Shard. Its cultural identity remains stubbornly layered – ancient liberties, immigrant energy, and a deep attachment to its parks and pubs.
Best Time to Visit
Full London guide →Best months
May, June, September – warm enough for shirt-sleeves, parks in full green, and school holidays haven’t choked central landmarks yet.
Peak / festival surge
August is the peak – school holidays pack the city, Notting Hill Carnival (last weekend) draws over a million visitors, hotel prices jump 30-50%. Book months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
Late April and early October offer mild days, lighter crowds and rates 20-30% below peak. The weather’s a gamble but often pleasant.
Weather & packing
London’s climate is famously fickle: you can get sun, drizzle and a chill all in a morning. Pack a light waterproof jacket and a mid-layer you can remove – leave the brolly, buy one cheap if caught out.
Live City Briefing — London
- Crossrail (Elizabeth Line) now connects Heathrow to central London in 40 minutes, including direct to nearby Farringdon station – skip the Piccadilly Line if short on time.
- The British Museum’s major 2026 exhibition on Viking Britain runs through September – expect queues, so book timed slots online.
- Kings Cross and St Pancras (10 min walk) are both undergoing forecourt redesigned to add more seating and cycle parking; construction hoardings are up until late 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Clink 78, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor at the rear side of the building. These higher floors minimise street noise from King's Cross Road and Gray's Inn Road, and the rear position avoids the main road traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor (directly above the reception/common area) and any room facing the front of the hotel (King's Cross Road side). The entrance and bar generate noise until late; the front rooms suffer from constant traffic rumble from the main road junction.
Best views
The best view is from a rear-facing room on the fourth floor: you'll see the back gardens of terraced houses and a slice of the King's Cross skyline (including the gasholder buildings). Front rooms face a busy junction with little architectural merit.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest. The lift is centrally located, but less foot traffic goes to these upper floors. Stairwell noise is minimal after midnight.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise is significant from both King's Cross Road (A5200) and Gray's Inn Road. The junction is busy with buses, taxis, and delivery vehicles from 6am to midnight. The basement bar opens onto a courtyard used by smokers until 11pm; rear ground-floor rooms may hear this.
Insider tips
1. Park at Pentonville Road NCP but pre-book online – it's often cheaper than the £35 daily rate and avoids circling. 2. Check in using the side entrance with the ramp if you have luggage; it's less crowded and the staff are more relaxed there.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Clink 78
Free Wi-Fi throughout. Speed ~25 Mbps download; one device per login, can re-login after timeout.
Lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections.
No newspapers. The building is a former magistrates' court and police station; original courtrooms and cells retained as common areas and dormitories.
Check-in from 15:00, checkout by 10:00. Early bag-drop from 12:00 (free). Late checkout until 14:00 for £15 if available; must request by 09:00.
Free for same-day check-in/check-out; overnight storage £5 per bag.
Step-free entrance at side door (ramp available by request). No adapted rooms; grab rails only in some public toilets. No lift to basement bar/kitchen.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Pentonville Road NCP (4-minute walk), £35–45 per 24h. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; £50 card hold for incidentals at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: King's Cross Mosque and Islamic Centre (228 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: St Pancras Church (623 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Somers Town Islamic Cultural and Education Centre (651 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Al-Nehar Mosque & Education Centre (662 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Angel Central — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Argyle Square Gardens — 123 m · ~2 min walk
Restored K6 phone booth — 217 m · ~3 min walk
Shaw Theatre — 411 m · ~5 min walk
Handyside Gardens Play Area — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 146 m · ~2 min walk
Baban Pharmacy — 529 m · ~7 min walk
Steven Lee Supermarket — 159 m · ~2 min walk
King's Cross St Pancras — 263 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or Post Office; avoid airport and tourist-area bureaux for poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard contactless accepted almost everywhere; Amex less common; mobile pay widely used.
Restaurants: 10-12.5% if service charge not included; taxis: round up or 10%; hotel staff: £1-2 per bag for porters, housekeeping optional.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Chain coffee shops (Costa, Pret) around £2.80-£3.50 for a filter or Americano.
Pie, mash or a sandwich deal from a supermarket cafe for about £5-£7.
Pub chain main course (e.g. burger) around £10-£14.
Exmouth Market (10 min walk) has diverse weekday lunch stalls; also King's Cross food hall kiosks.
Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, and Lidl (a bit further) are common.
Primark on Oxford Street (tube) or charity shops in Angel (15 min walk).
Bus day pass £5.50 (cap); Tube day pass £8.10; cheapest airport: National Express coach from Luton/Stansted or tube from Heathrow (zone 1).
Walk or rent a Santander cycle (docking stations nearby) for short trips; eat from market stalls at lunchtime for better value; pre-book theatre/attractions online for discounts.
Good to know — London
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in London, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Clink 78
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 146 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Baban Pharmacy — 529 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Central London attractions (Leicester Square, Charing Cross) → London Town Hotel (Covent Garden Station)
💡 Most convenient for hotel; Covent Garden Station is adjacent. Contactless payment auto-caps daily fares at £8.50. Download TfL Go app for real-time updates.
Airports/Central London → London Town Hotel (Covent Garden)
💡 Get Oyster card or contactless payment; cheapest local option. Piccadilly Line goes near Covent Garden. Avoid rush hours if possible.
Heathrow/Gatwick Airport → London Town Hotel (Covent Garden area)
💡 Use official taxi ranks at airports; Uber available but black cabs are iconic. Surge pricing during peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm).
Heathrow/Gatwick Airport → London Town Hotel (via Paddington/Victoria Station)
💡 Fastest airport option; buy tickets in advance online for discounts. Connect via Circle/District lines to hotel area within 10 mins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Clink 78?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor at the rear side of the building. These higher floors minimise street noise from King's Cross Road and Gray's Inn Road, and the rear position avoids the main road traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Clink 78?
Avoid rooms on the first floor (directly above the reception/common area) and any room facing the front of the hotel (King's Cross Road side). The entrance and bar generate noise until late; the front rooms suffer from constant traffic rumble from the main road junction.
Is Clink 78 noisy?
Street noise is significant from both King's Cross Road (A5200) and Gray's Inn Road. The junction is busy with buses, taxis, and delivery vehicles from 6am to midnight. The basement bar opens onto a courtyard used by smokers until 11pm; rear ground-floor rooms may hear this.
Which rooms have the best views at Clink 78?
The best view is from a rear-facing room on the fourth floor: you'll see the back gardens of terraced houses and a slice of the King's Cross skyline (including the gasholder buildings). Front rooms face a busy junction with little architectural merit.
What are insider tips for staying at Clink 78?
1. Park at Pentonville Road NCP but pre-book online – it's often cheaper than the £35 daily rate and avoids circling. 2. Check in using the side entrance with the ramp if you have luggage; it's less crowded and the staff are more relaxed there.
What time is check-in at Clink 78?
Check-in at Clink 78 is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Clink 78 have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout. Speed ~25 Mbps download; one device per login, can re-login after timeout.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Clink 78?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Clink 78?
Pie, mash or a sandwich deal from a supermarket cafe for about £5-£7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Clink 78?
Bus day pass £5.50 (cap); Tube day pass £8.10; cheapest airport: National Express coach from Luton/Stansted or tube from Heathrow (zone 1).
When is the best time to visit London?
May, June, September – warm enough for shirt-sleeves, parks in full green, and school holidays haven’t choked central landmarks yet.
Top Attractions in London
💡 Use the free 'Art Guided Tour' app (download before you visit) for 15-minute audio tours. The Sainsbury Wing entrance is less crowded than the main portico.
💡 Go early on weekday mornings (10am) to avoid crowds. The permanent collection is free; special exhibitions cost extra.
💡 Walk the full length from Marble Arch to Kensington Palace (about 2.5 km) for the best cross-section of the park. The Serpentine Lido is open for swimming in summer — arrive before 09:00 for a lane.
💡 Walk from Hyde Park Corner to Kensington Palace via the Serpentine Bridge. Free deckchairs are available near the Lido (first come, first served). Avoid the paid boating unless you really want to.
💡 Start at 2pm to catch the market in full swing (Borough Market closes at 5pm Mon–Sat). No entry fee for any part of the walk itself. Cross Tower Bridge for a free view of the Tower of London.
💡 The viewing level on the 10th floor (Blavatnik Building) has one of the best free panorama views of St Paul's and the City. Entry is free; book a timed slot online.